Typewriting machine



Oct. 12, 1937. v w. F. HELMQND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet2 W. F. HELMOND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1935 l lllhllll |l.| Illlllll.

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x ml 0 ylll PI u Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,095,666 mnwm'rmo momma:

Application November 18, 1935, Serial No. 50,268

6 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriting machines,

and presents improvements in the design and construction of the centering and letter-gaging scale, the type-bar segment stop-ring, and the method of aligning and securing the type-bar pivot wire in the type-bar segment.

One of the improvements disclosed herein is a novel front-rail or carriage scale, formed of yieldable sheet metal with a continuous, rounded edge, to increase the strength and rigidity. A

number of scales may be printed on a metal sheet,

and lacquered, and formed into individual completely finished scales by punching without marring the scales. The rounded edge also adds a pleasing appearance to the scale, and presents smooth surfaces which offer no obstructions to the fingers of the operator, making it unnecessary to take the usual steps of folding over the edges ofthe scale or to provide a separate frame or guard into which the scale is placed. Economies in material and manufacturing costs are sou d-deadening cushion interposed between an outer metal surface and the type-bar segment, examples of which are the structures disclosed in the United States patents to Kurowski, No. 1,395,503, Norin No. 1,803,125, and Corcoran No. 1,526,966, all of which have been used on the Underwood typewriter, the cushioning means is either secured to the type-bar segment, as in the patent to Kurowski, or to the metal surface, as in the Norin and Corcoran patents. The cushion, therefore, is not free to shift its position, and in spite of themetal facing plate, wear in localized spots is inevitable.

The stop-ring disclosed in the present invention comprises the combination of a segment of rubber of suitable density, or other resilient, sound-deadening material, with a concentric plate of spring steel, said plate being formed with suitable,'downwardly offset flanges by means of which the plate may be fastened to the typebar segment. The latter is formed with a contogether with the offset flanges of the steel plate,

forms a pocket in which the rubber segment is held. The rubber segment is thus free to shift or vibrate independently during operation; this I 55 freedom of movement, although admittedly small,

acting to equalize wear and add to the useful life of the stop-ring.

Another object of the invention is to improve the manner of securing the curved wire used as a fulcrum upon which the type-bars are pivoted 5 around the type-bar segment of a machine, in the slot or groove provided for it in said segment.

It is often necessary to completely or partially remove this wire from the segment when replacing or repairing type-bars, and the purpose 10 of this invention is to assure that the fulcrumwire occupies its original position exactly, when replaced. Heretofore the replaced wire has been found to occupy different positions lengthwise. Owing to minute discrepancies in the cutting of 15 the groove, in the curving of the wire, and the wearing of the wire in spots by the type-bars, it results that, unless the wire is restored to its original position, the types will not print in the same places because, in effect, the pivot points of the type-bars will have been altered One 20 type will print a shade higher on the work-sheet, and another type will print alongside of it, but in a position a shade lower. Thus the discrepancy is doubled with consequent detriment to the appearance of the work. 25

The fulcrum-wire is set endwise into the groove, and thrust around therein until it abuts against a gaging-screw which intersects the groove near the left end thereof. A novel, spring-like, angular clip is employed to hold the fulcrum-wire 30 against the gaging-screw, said clip being adjustably secured, by means of a screw, to the type-bar segment, and arranged, on suitably tightening said screw, to exert a yieldable force F against the right end of said wire. The clip is additionally arranged to be readily freed of contact with the wire, to permit the removal of the latter, without the necessity of removing the clip or its retaining screw from the segment.

The segment is held in place on the machine by means of screws whichpass through the thickened wall of the segment. The screw-holes intersect the groove into which the fulcrum-wire is set. However, each screw is formed with a reduced neck-portion, so that the shank of the screw does not protrude into the groove or channel which is provided for thefulcrum-wire. The wire may be removed without disturbing the screws which hold the segment in place on the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis afragmentary perspective of a type-. 5

writing machine, showing the new scale, the typebar segment with the fulcrum-wire retainer clip,

' and the rubber andsteel stop-ring.

Figure 2 shows the means of fastening the scale.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the new scale.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section through the front rail of the machine of Figure 1, the scale and its fastening.

Figure 5 is a section of the scale taken through point 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the type-bar segment, showing the fulcrum-wire and retainers, etc.-

Figure 7 is a perspective of the right rear por-- A platen Ill, Figure 1, is journaled in a carriage- A pointer I2 is fastened to a carriage-rail |3. A front scale I4 is fastened with screws l5,

passing through slots Hi, to a front rail H of the machine frame l8. Scale l4 has two sets of graduation marks, the upper one IQ for the usual purpose, and the lower one 20 for centering. The scale is punched out of thin metal to reduce weight and cost, and is given a rounded continuous edge 2|, with the edges of the slots "5 also rounded, as shown in Figure 4. Although the scale I4 is made of thin metal, the continuous rounded edge strengthens the structure and provides an even bearing surface all around. By-

similarly rounding the edges of the slots l6 so as to have the lower peripheries of said edges in planar relationship with the scale edges, as shown in section in Figure 4, a double arch structure is formed, the shoulders 22 of said arch structure taking up the thrust imposed by tightening screws l5, and preventing the collapse or distortion of the scale I 4, or the cracking of the scale finish.

The spring-like tension of the scale, which is 'formed to have a longitudinal sweep or bow when relaxed, as shown in Figure 2, affords a perfect contact between. scale and front rail. The scale I4 is first loosely fastened with one screw |5 to one end of the front rail l1. Then by slightly pressing the scale down on its opposite end, the second screw may be inserted and loosely fastened. The scale must now be centered ex-' actly' to the type-guide of the machine (not shown), and then the screws |5 may be tightened. The whole scale now being in a sprung condition, it is found that even very long long scales may be securely fastened with only one screw at each end.

Figures 11 and 12 show steps in the manufacture of the scales. first be sprayed with paint, and, after drying, the two sets of graduations |9-and 20, in different colors, may be printed on the painted surface. A number of scales, as shown by dotted lines 24, Figure 11, are printed over the sheet, with separation for the'punching die to clear the printed.

scales. The sheet may then be lacquered, or

, formed by a suitable die.

clip 31.

The thin metal sheet 23 may given a similar transparent finish coating. The individual, printed scales, shown in Figure 12, are then punched, to exact size, out of the sheet 23. In .the same operation the slots l5 are punched, said slots consisting, in this stage, only of small incisions. The next operation gives them final shape. The operation of giving the scale its final form, with rounded uninterrupted edges, including the slot-holes, may be per- Burrs which may develop during the forming operation may be removed by a simple grinding or filing operation. Figure 12 shows the printed and punched-out fiat scale, ready to be formed to its final shape (see dotted lines 2| in section of Figure 12).

Because of its rounded edges the scale, when mounted upon the front rail of the machine, ofiers no obstruction to the fingers of the operator.

It will be seen from Figures 1 and 3 that both sets of graduations are carried over the rounded edges of the scale, for easy reading, as the graduations are outstanding against pointer I2 on the carriage-rail 3 and against pointers 25 on the margin-stops 26.

In Figure 6, a type-bar-carrying segment 30 is mounted by screws 3| upon support 32, fastened to cross-member 33 of the machine-frame. fulcrum-wire 34 on which type-bars 49 are pivoted, as shown in Figure 10, slidably fits into a groove 35 in the segment. The rounded left end of the wire abuts against a gaging screw 36, Figure 9, which is formed with a concentric, cylindrical' tip 315 to insure a uniform point of contact with said fulcrum-wire. The rounded right-hand end of the wire is maintained under constant pressure by a bent spring-like retainer One arm 38 of this clip occupies a slot 39in the segment, where it normally engages the right end of wire 34, as shown in Figure 6. The outer arm 40 is adjustably held by a retainer-screw 4| on the periphery of the segment, said screw, when tight ened, acting to rock the clip 31 about a fulcrum-point 31, so .that'arm 38 resiliently engages the end of wire 34, urging it into contact with the gaging screw 36, and thereby exactly positioning the wire 34 in groove 35. The retainer-screw 4| makes it unnecessary to remove the segment 30 from the machine in order to'make a change of a type-bar, as said screw can be adjusted from the front or righthand side of the machine. This arrangement is inexpensive. Screw 4| should be tightened only so far as to have the retainer clip 31 firmlyholding the fulcrum-wire in position, but the resilient nature of clip 31 prevents the imposition of an excessive stress on wire 34 caused by excessively tightening screw 4|. Figure '7 shows an enlargedrear view of the' right-hand side of the segment.

To replace any type-bar, gaging screw 38 at the left hand is backed up far enough to clear the groove 35. Retainer-screw 4| is also loosened sumciently to allow the retainer clip 31 to be moved-out of the path of wire 34, thus clearing the groove at the right-hand side. The end of a curved wire or similar device may now be introduced into the groove 35 at. the right or left side,and pushed against the end of the fulcrum-wire to displace the latter far enough to clear the desired type-bar which is to be exchanged. 'As previously stated, it is important to have the fulcrum-wire occupy its original position when replaced. After the replacement or exchange of type-bars is finished, the ful-' crum-wire, if completely removed, can be reinserted into its groove and pushed until it abuts against the screw 36, which in the meantime has been tightened. The retainer clip 31 may now be brought back into. slot 39 of the segment, and retainer-screw 4| tightened enough to permit the arm 38 of retainer clip 31 to hold the fulcrum-wire firmly in position. Said wire is then correctly replaced.

The screws 3|, which hold segment against the support 32, pass through the portion of the segment occupied by the groove 35. To clear the fulcrum-wire, these screws are provided with reduced neck-portions 42, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. It is thus rendered possible to remove the fulcrum-wire without disturbing screws 3|.

A segi'nent 43, of rubber or similar resilient material, is disposed behind a thin plate 44, preferably of spring steel, which covers the surface of said segment, as shown in Figures 1 and 6. Plate 44 is secured to the surface of type-bar segment 30 by means of screws 46, which pass through a plurality of integral, downwardly offset flanges 45 formed in said plate, the. offset depth of said flanges being in suitable relation to the thickness of the segment 43 to cause plate 44 to rest on the surface of segment 43 when the flanges 45 are secured to segment 30. A pair of ears 41, formed at each end of plate 44 to overlie segment 43 and segment 30 act to facilitate the assembly of the plate 44 and segment 43.

A shoulder 48, formed in segment 30, and substantially concentric therewith, co-operates with the plate 44 and the flanges 43 to form a pocket in which segment 43 is held. The top of shoulder 48 is preferably below the outer surface of segment 43, so that there is no possibility of contact between plate 44 and shoulder 48.

The segment 43, not being rigidly secured to 40 the type-bar segment 30 or to the plate 44, is thus free to vibrate independently of thesemembers. Said segment 43 thus co-operates with plate 44 to form a stop-ring of suflicient resilience to impart the necessary springing action to the type-bars 45 49, and yet provides a yielding cushion to resist the continued blows of said type-bars. The typebars 49 strike the spring steel plate 44, which acts to prevent the defacement of segment 43, said segment cushioning the blow, and reducing the 50 noise of impact.

v Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the' invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. For use with a typewriting machine, a pressed metal, graduated scale formed with a continuous, downwardly extending rounded edge, said scale having mounting holes near the ends thereof.

2. For use with a typewriting machine, a pressed metal, graduated scale formed with a continuous, downwardly extending rounded edge, said scale having mounting holes near the ends thereof, said scale having a longitudinally bowed form when relaxed.

3. A graduated metal scale for use with a typewriting machine, said scale being substantially arcuate in cross-section by reason of a continuous rounded edge, said edge having its opposite, lower surfaces substantially in planar relation.

4. A metal scale for use with a typewriting machine, a continuous, downwardly turned flange formed on said scale during the manufacture thereof, said flange stiffening the scale and imparting an even'bearing surface thereto, and one or more sets of graduations delineated on the upper surface of said scale, said graduations extending down over the flanges of said scale.

5. A metal, graduated scale for use with a typewriting machine, said scale having elongated mounting holes formed near the ends thereof to accommodate means for securing said scale, and an integral downwardly extending wall formed around the respective peripheries of said scale and said holes, the lower surfaces of said walls being in planar relationship to permit said scale evenly to contact any level surface on which it may be mounted.

6. A metal, graduated scale for use with a typewriting machine, said scale having elongated mounting holes formed near the ends thereof to accommodate means for securing said scale, and an integral downwardly extending wall formed around the respective peripheries of said scale and said holes, the lower surfaces of said walls being in planar relationship to permit said scale evenly to contact any level surface on which it may be mounted, the walls of said mounting holes arranged to co-operate with said securing means to prevent'the collapse thereof during said mounting.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND. 

